Fifty-five people died today and more than 2,400 others were injured as a result of the clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces along the border in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.  Today marks the deadliest day since these protests began at the end of March, and pushes the total death toll past 100.

The escalation of violence in Gaza coincided with the opening of new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem.  That ceremony was attended by an American delegation that included Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin, Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner, who gave a speech at the event.  At Monday afternoon’s press briefing at the White House, deputy press secretary Raj Shah told reporters that the “responsibility for these tragic deaths rest squarely with Hamas.”  Shah also noted, “As the Secretary of State said, Israel has the right to defend itself.”